 
Evaluation at A2
At A2 level, 25% of marks awarded are for evaluation. All the marks for evaluation are in part (c) of the data response question and part (b) of the essay question. You cannot achieve more than 15 out of 25 marks if you don’t evaluate.
What is evaluation?
Making judgements and supporting those judgements by data and logical arguments.
Command Words – These are words used in the questions that signal the need to evaluate:
- Assess - Critically Assess
- Evaluate - Discuss
- Justify your answer - To what extent
How can you demonstrate evaluation?
- Answers should include alternative points of view and these should be clearly identified.
- Some attempt should be made to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the different viewpoints.
- Where possible, you should use data (textual/non-textual/your own knowledge) to provide support for arguments or to refute a point of view.
- Consider the reliability of the data being used. Is it from a reliable source, subject to possible bias, inaccurate, out of dare or incomplete?
- Identify the circumstances where different outcomes are likely from the intended.
- Explain how your conclusions might be affected by other influences, such as PED, Government, Exchange rates etc
- Consider how the extent and duration of a change in the economy will affect the impact of your conclusion of additional factors.
- Distinguish between short run and long run effects.
- Show an overall judgement.
Glossary of useful evaluative words and phrases
However
Hence
Nevertheless
Although
It is likely that…
The tendency is…
But...
In retrospect…
With the benefit of hindsight
On the other hand
In the short run……….but in the long run……
It depends upon
The data suggests that…
According to the article
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